Thousand Oaks Baptist Church
Testing the Will of God
Text: Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Introduction: This lesson is specifically directed to truly born again Christians, who are asking the questions: "How can I know what really is the will of God? Of what does the will of God primarily consist? What can I expect to be the inward and outward results if I dedicate or yield my heart and life completely to Jesus Christ? How can I test my Christian experience to see if I really do have the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God?"
I. The will of God is found in what is GOOD in God's sight.
A. To form a basis for contrast and comparison, let's first look at some things that are
definitely NOT the will of God.
1. Proverbs 6:16-19 These are things that are an abomination to God:
a. A proud look.
b. A lying tongue.
c. Hands that shed innocent blood.
d. A heart that devises wicked imaginations.
e. Feet swift in running to mischief.
f. A false witness who speaks lies.
g. He who sows discord among brethren.
2. Romans 1:18-32 Things that men should not do - some worthy of death.
a. Reject divine light given to them.
b. Glorify the creation instead of the Creator.
c. Become vain [wicked, idolatrous; worthless, empty, confused;
false, wrong, lying] in their imaginations.
d. Harbor foolish hearts and minds. (cf. Psalm 5:5; 14:1; 53:1;
74:22; Jer. 4:22; 5:4; Ezek. 13:3; Matt. 7:26, 27;
Gal. 3:1, 3; Prov. 9:6; 14:7)
e. Dishonor their bodies in homosexuality and lesbianism.
f. Exchange the truth of God for Satan's lie.
g. Refuse and reject God in their minds.
h. Have pleasure in those who sin in like manner.
3. Romans 1:29-31 Specific sins against God and mankind.
a. Unrighteousness.
b. Fornication.
c. Wickedness.
d. Covetousness.
e. Maliciousness.
f. Envy.
g. Murder.
h. Debate.
i. Deceit.
j. Malignity.
k. Whisperings.
l. Backbitings.
m. God-hating.
n. Despite.
o. Pride.
p. Boasting.
q. Inventing evil things.
r. Disobedient to parents.
s. Without understanding.
t. Covenant breakers.
u. Without natural affection.
v. Implacable.
w. Lacking mercy.
4. Galatians 5:19-21 Works of the flesh - all contrary to the Holy Spirit's
work.
a. Adultery.
b. Moral uncleanness.
c. Lasciviousness.
d. Idolatry.
e. Witchcraft.
f. Hatred.
g. Variance.
h. Emulations.
i. Wrath.
j. Strife.
k. Heresies.
l. Drunkenness.
B. Now we have a backdrop against which to understand what God says is good.
1. 1 Timothy 3:1-13 Good works and good characteristics.
a. Living beyond reproach.
b. Having one spouse.
c. Temperance.
d. Prudence.
e. Hospitality.
f. Aptitude to teach.
g. Gentleness.
h. Control of your household.
i. Dignity.
j. Holding a clear conscience.
k. Control of the body.
l. Confidence in the faith.
2. Titus 1:6-9 More good works and good characteristics.
a. Control of the will.
b. Even tempered.
c. Loving good things & good men.
d. Sensible.
e. Just.
f. Devout.
g. Holding fast the faithful Word of God.
3. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love, that includes these good things.
a. Patience.
b. Kindness.
c. Trust.
d. Generosity.
e. Modesty.
f. Humility.
g. Courtesy.
h. Unselfishness.
i. Forgiveness.
j. Good temper.
k. Sincerity.
l. Endurance.
m. Hope.
n. Faith.
o. Rejoicing in truth.
4. Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9 The good fruit of the Holy Spirit.
a. Love.
b. Joy.
c. Peace.
d. Patience.
e. Kindness.
f. Goodness.
g. Faithfulness.
h. Gentleness.
i. Self-control.
j. Righteousness.
k. Truth.
5. Philippians 4:8 Good things to think about.
a. True things.
b. Honest things.
c. Just things.
d. Pure things.
e. Pleasing (agreeable) things.
f. Things having a good report.
g. Virtuous things.
h. Things praised by God in the Bible.
6. Matthew 5:3-11 Jesus' description of good people who will know ultimate
happiness..
a. The poor in spirit (who honestly realize their spiritual needs).
b. Those who mourn (with godly sorrow, mingled with blessed
hope).
c. The meek (honest humility).
d. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.
e. The merciful.
f. The pure in heart.
g. The peacemakers.
h. Those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.
i. Those who are reviled, persecuted, and falsely and evily spoken
of for Jesus' sake.
7. Some good things commended to us by the Old Testament.
a. Having and showing mercy. (Psa. 109:21)
b. Having understanding. (Psa. 111:10)
c. Showing favor to the needy. (Psa. 112:5)
d. Exercising right judgment. (Psa. 119:66)
e. Having and showing loving-kindness. (Psa. 69:16)
f. Drawing near to God. (Psa. 73:28)
g. Exercising forgiveness. (Psa. 86:5)
h. Giving thanks. (Psa. 92:1)
i. Living together with brethren in peace. (Psa. 133:1)
j. Being afflicted in order to learn more of God's Word.
(Psa. 119:17)
k. Singing praises to God. (Psa. 147:1)
l. Teaching the doctrines of the Bible. (Prov. 4:2)
m. Speaking a word [encouragement, exhortation, etc.] in due
season. (Prov. 15:23)
n. Handling matters wisely. (Prov. 16:20)
o. Waiting patiently for the Lord's coming. (Lam. 3:26)
8. New Testament passages commanding us to do various good things.
a. Romans 12-16
b. 1 Corinthians 4-11, 14-16
c. 2 Corinthians 6-11, 13
d. Galatians 4-6
e. Ephesians 4-6
f. Philippians 1-4
g. Colossians 2-4
h. 1 Thessalonians 4-5
i. 2 Thessalonians 2-3
j. 1 Timothy 1-6
k. 2 Timothy 1-4
l. Titus 1-3
m. Philemon vs. 12, 17, 18, 20, 22-24
n. Hebrews 3, 4, 6, 10, 12, 13
o. James 1-5
p. 1 Peter 1-5
q. 2 Peter 3
r. 1 John 2-5
s. 2 John vs. 5, 6, 8, 10
t. 3 John vs. 6, 8, 11, 14
u. Jude vs. 3, 5-7, 17-23
v. Revelation 2, 3, 22
II. The will of God is also found in that which is COMPLETELY
ACCEPTABLE to God.
A. Everything good listed in point I. B. above is perfectly acceptable to God.
B. God specifically accepts the following:
1. True faith. (Heb. 11:1-2; Eph. 2:8; Gal. 3:11; John 3:16, 36)
2. Pure love. (1 Cor. 13; 1 Tim. 1:5)
3. All that is done for Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts. 10:35)
4. True praise, thanksgiving, worship, and giving, all from a pure heart.
(1 Pet. 2:5)
5. Providing things honest in the sight of all men. (2 Cor. 8:21)
6. Your whole self, given unreservedly to God. (Rom. 12:1)
7. Prayer for all men. (1 Tim. 2:1-3)
8. Showing piety at home, and requiting (returning the good to) your parents.
(1 Tim. 5:4)
9. Patience in well-doing, even when persecuted for it. (1 Pet. 5:20)
[Also see Job 42:9; Psa. 119:108; Eph. 1:6.]
III. The will of God is also found in that which is PERFECT
(Christian maturity).
A. Not willingly lacking in anything that is God's will for us right now.
B. Serving Christ and seeking to win souls.
C. Being usable for God, and allowing Him to keep you that way.
D. Being a blessing to God, to others, and to yourself.
E. Being able to feed yourself from God's Word; rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
F. Persevering through testing, and loving and trusting God more as the result.
G. Bearing one another's burdens.
H. Responding to all men with love, patience, kindness, and consideration.
". . . A heart and life wholly dedicated to Jesus Christ is an excellent thing of great and shining beauty. How beautiful am I today?" (cf. Dan. 12:3; Rom. 10:15) ~ Author Unknown
Conclusion: As we pointed out at the beginning, this lesson was specifically directed toward truly born again Christians. If you have not yet received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith as your Savior and Lord, the will of God for you is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thus be saved (Acts 16:31). Jesus made this very clear when He said, "... this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life..." (John 6:40).
Let me urge you to "see" the Son of God by faith - right now - and believe on Him, so that you, too, can have everlasting life.